At long last The Lord of the Rings trilogy has arrived on Blu-ray!!!! But is this the right Blu-ray version for you?
The picture and sound quality are amazing. There’s no doubt that if ever there was a way to watch the award-winning Lord of the Rings trilogy, Blu-ray is right on target. The issue that many may have, and I was among those surprised, is that this particular release is of the theatrical versions and not the extended editions that were released on DVD previously.
This may be problematic for many who are hardcore Rings fans who would be willing to spend the money on an Extended Edition of the trilogy on Blu-ray, but not on the films as they were released theatrically. What is one to do?
First, if you have Netflix, you can always rent the Blu-ray versions and check out the quality of the video and sound for yourself. You can also see the difference in how the special effects and battles compare from DVD to Blu-ray. This way if you like what you see, when the Extended Editions do appear on Blu-ray, you’ll know what to expect beforehand.
If you don’t own the trilogy on DVD and don’t care to see four-hour versions of each film, then I recommend this Blu-ray version.
However, if you are a hardcore Rings fan who already owns all things Lord of the Rings on DVD, I would wait for the Special Extended Blu-ray Edition of the trilogy. If you already own the DVDs of this version, then you definitely will want to wait. Still, it would hurt to rent one of the films on Blu-ray to check it out.
And if you don’t have a Blu-ray player, then don’t worry about it right now.
There are different special features present on each bonus Blu-ray disc that accompanies each film that are different than those found on previous releases. I really enjoyed the gargantuan amount of special features on the Special Extended DVD Editions, and these features were also good.
I was surprised at how few there were for a Blu-ray edition. I was expecting the Special Extended DVD Editions features (not the ones specifically about the additions) alongside some new ones. I’ve noticed that Disney has been doing this with its re-releases.
So, what are the Blu-ray edition’s special features broken down by film?
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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Welcome to Middle-earth: Houghton Mifflin In-store Special
Quest for the Ring: FOX TV Special
A Passage to Middle-earth: SCI-FI Channel Special
Lordoftherings.net Featurettes
TV Spots
Enya “May It Be” Music Video
Special Extended DVD Edition Preview
Behind the Scenes Preview of The Two Towers
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The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
On the Set – The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – Starz Encore Special
Return to Middle-earth: WB Special
The Long and Short of It – A Short Film Directed by Sean Astin
The Making of The Long and the Short of It
Lordoftherings.net Featurettes
TV Spots
Emiliana Torrini “Gollum’s Song” Music Video
Special Extended DVD Edition Preview
Behind the Scenes Preview of The Return of the King
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The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The Quest Fulfilled: A Director’s Vision
A Filmmaker’s Journey: Making Return of the King
National Geographic Special: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Lordoftherings.net Featurettes
TV Spots
Special Extended DVD Edition Preview
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You also get Digital Copies of the trilogy, which also look amazing on your computer or portable device. These are all great, exciting, and entertaining special features that are definitely worth a look. Between the Blu-ray and DVD special features available, you should have no problem immersing yourself in The Lord of the Rings universe.
Will there be a Special Extended Blu-ray Edition set upcoming? Yes, but not until 2011 or 2012. Until then, enjoy the first Blu-ray versions of The Lord of Rings trilogy in all their amazing Technicolor glory today!
The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy Blu-ray/Digital Copy box set is available now!!
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